BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC—Caribbean Group (CARICOM) overseas ministers have been instructed that the USA Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, is predicted to journey to the Caribbean area earlier than the tip of March to debate numerous points affecting CARICOM relations with the North American nation.
Final Sunday, US Particular Envoy for Latin America and the Caribbean Mauricio Claver-Carone met in Washington with representatives from Barbados, the Bahamas, Belize, Dominica, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Kitts-Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Knowledgeable sources instructed the Caribbean Media Company (CMC) that whereas the regional representatives had been knowledgeable of Rubio’s pending go to, no particular date or nations to be visited had been disclosed.
In accordance with the sources, the assembly mentioned a variety of points, from Washington’s latest announcement relating to the Cuban well being brigade system to vitality and financial improvement and Haiti’s safety and stability.
CARICOM nations have defended the Cuban well being program, which they are saying benefitted the area considerably, at the same time as Rubio introduced just lately that Washington can be increasing an present Cuba-related visa restriction coverage that targets compelled labor linked to the Cuban labor export program.
“This expanded coverage applies to present or former Cuban authorities officers, and different people, together with overseas authorities officers, who’re believed to be chargeable for, or concerned in, the Cuban labor export program, significantly Cuba’s abroad medical missions,” Rubio stated then.
The prime ministers of Antigua and Barbuda, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago have publicly supported the Cuban program. On the similar time, Grenada’s International Minister Affairs Minister, Joseph Andall, stated St. George’s not solely has a “authorized, ethical and moral” obligation to face by the folks of Cuba however also needs to keep away from being opportunistic or transactional because it pertains to the relations between the 2 nations.
“Cuba continues to be a reliable buddy and accomplice not solely of Grenada, the Caribbean, and folks worldwide. When the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, Cuban docs went so far as Italy to offer companies. I didn’t hear anyone discuss human trafficking and issues like that,” Andall instructed the Parliament on Tuesday in the course of the nation’s nationwide price range debate.
In accordance with the sources, in the course of the Sunday assembly, Claver-Carone defined that Washington was fascinated about selling a possibility for Cuban medical personnel to independently earn and promote their companies and to benefit from the rights loved by different CARICOM staff beneath Worldwide Labour Group (ILO) Conventions and different worldwide greatest practices.
The sources stated that the envoy defined that the US motion was not solely concentrating on the CARICOM member states “however was a worldwide strategy,” stating that the US response additionally focused Italy and Qatar.
“The dialogue centered on making certain that Cuban docs have the identical rights as residents, regardless of restrictions from their governments,” the sources stated, at the same time as CARICOM criticized US insurance policies in direction of Cuba, advocating for labor rights and worldwide norms.
“The dialogue highlighted the necessity for truthful negotiations and monetary transaction fashions,” the sources stated, including that the assembly additionally mentioned the continuing Cuba and financial scenario, “concerning the struggles confronted by the Cuban folks and the necessity for a transition in direction of normalcy.”
The discussions on Haiti, the place felony gangs have been in search of to overthrow the federal government because the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in July 2021, centered on the safety challenges within the French-speaking CARICOM nation.
The sources stated the discussions emphasised the necessity for worldwide assist to equip the Haitian Nationwide Police and tackle gang-related points.
Claver-Carone is reported to have stated that the Donald Trump administration would proceed the Biden Administration’s coverage on Haiti. He famous that within the complicated scenario, CARICOM had credibility in its engagement with Haiti and that the USA wouldn’t assist any coverage that might see Haiti sink additional into turning into a failed state run by gangs.
The sources stated that the Particular Envoy additionally dedicated to transmitting Haiti’s requests for assist to the transition to an elected authority and the necessity for adaptive tools to match the energy of the tools within the palms of the gangs.
Concerning Venezuela and regional stability, the sources instructed CMC that the assembly determined the “focus ought to be on proactive insurance policies, significantly in financial and vitality sectors.”
The sources stated the assembly ended with the necessity for a “strong and open line of communication” between CARICOM and the US to make sure progress and tackle points successfully.
